Post of the Day
Renate Egan
The cost of turning sunlight into electricity has fallen more than 90% over the last decade. Solar is now the cheapest form of newly built energy generation.
On This Day
National
Carbon offset whistleblower to be taken seriously in inquiry: Ian Chubb
Damning whistleblower criticisms of the federal government’s $4.5 billion carbon credits scheme must be taken seriously, according to former chief scientist Ian Chubb, who is reviewing controversial rules following claims that taxpayers’ money was being spent on fake climate action.
NSW, Vic pledge to power electric vehicles
Australia’s electric vehicle drivers could plug in to hundreds of additional charging locations over the next two years as NSW and Victorian political parties pledge millions of dollars to expand charging networks.
Methane pledge is not about “cow burps:” It means no new coal and gas projects
Greens say Australia won’t meet its commitment to Global Methane Pledge by reducing “cow burps,” but by halting new coal and gas development.
Farmers have no defences left against ‘extraordinary’ weather events that have become all too common
Pete Mailler
As our leaders feign shock at its severity, the weather continues to undermine even best management practice on the land
A kangaroo is our tourism ambassador, but how we kill them is an international problem
Mick McIntyre
The European Parliament will debate a proposed ban on the use of kangaroo products on Monday night.
Australia’s green shift must be fair to workers [$]
Sharan Burrow
As the world heads towards net zero emissions, attention must increasingly turn to how we secure the future employment of workers affected by this transition.
Mark Howden
Australia has just joined 122 other nations in signing a pledge to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. It was a long time coming: Australia, under the Morrison government, refused to commit when the pledge was first announced at the COP26 climate summit last year.
Takes the plunge: Tanya Plibersek releases roadmap to fix Australia’s water trading wreck
Stuart Kells and Scott Hamilton
Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has released the “Roadmap” document accepting Australia’s water trading markets are “a market-design car-crash” and backed the findings of the long-awaited ACCC report.
Victoria
Echuca resident Elisha is determined to save her aunt’s house, which is on the wrong side of the town’s 2.5km-long flood levee. In Kerang, a local says most people are in good spirits as they wait for floodwaters to recede.
Victoria’s climate change laws face first major legal challenge in Supreme Court
Environmentalists tell Victoria’s Supreme Court the Environment Protection Authority should have done more to curb greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley.
Gallagher claims ‘detailed business case’ supports Suburban Rail Loop spending
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has defended the Commonwealth’s decision to pour $2.2 billion into the Andrews government’s flagship Suburban Rail Loop in Tuesday’s budget, insisting the project rigorously stacks up with a “very positive” cost-benefit ratio.
Victorian Coalition vows to accelerate electric vehicle uptake
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has promised to pause Victoria’s contentious electric vehicle tax and invest $50 million to boost the uptake of low-emissions cars if elected in November.
Residents in flood-stricken Victoria consider legal class action
Flood-hit residents in northern Victoria weigh up launching class legal action.
Dan OK with Albo dudding Vic by $1bn [$]
Dan Andrews supports federal Labor’s axing of $1bn in Victorian projects, despite the annoucement putting a vital road upgrade in jeopardy.
Graph of the Day: Wind energy delivers three quarters of Victoria’s demand for first time
Wind energy sets new record share of 75 per cent of demand in the state of Victoria.
Why Victorian gas is critical to Australia and the region [$]
Robert Gottliebsen
Australian energy exports to key allies like Japan and India are simply too important to our relationships and our regional reputation to be left to inexperienced energy ministers.
Dan Andrews’ sales pitch for renewables plan appears doomed [$]
Karen Maley
The Victorian premier clearly envisages a new career for himself as an infrastructure funds manager, even though he has none of the requisites for success.
Labor’s love lost: the tide is turning on private ownership of electricity grids
John Quiggin
The promise by the Andrews government to reintroduce public enterprise to Victoria’s electricity industry, through a revived State Electricity Commission, is something of a shock.
New South Wales
Partly wind-powered coal ship sails into Newcastle
Partly powered by wind, the Shofu Maru has arrived in Newcastle from Japan, cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
Excessive water extractions, not climate change, are most to blame for the Darling River drying
Quentin Grafton et al
You may recall when, at the height of summer in 2019, more than a million fish floated to the surface of the Darling River’s Menindee Lakes. Iconic Murray cod and silver perch were among the dead.
Queensland
Construction officially begins on the $1.1 billion light rail stage 3 but, as the state government declares the city’s love for the project, local businesses are sceptical.
Electric dreams: How a NQ mine could help produce 6 million electric vehicles
The $500 million Sconi nickel and cobalt project in north Queensland has made another deviation with Australian Mines pushing its production start back to 2028 and shifting strategy.
‘Totally outraged’: Cloud over future of two dam projects [$]
A planned $1bn regional ring road that Prime Minister Albanese labelled a “certainty” when in opposition in 2019 has been delayed, possibly jeopardising two major dam projects.
Has Queensland overpumped its pumped hydro plans?
David Leitch
Queensland’s energy plan begs the question: what is the true value of longer duration storage? And how much, really, is needed?
South Australia
SA government approves funds for assisted dying laws
The South Australian government is allocating $18 million over five years to implement new assisted dying laws.
Credit card ‘tap-and-go’ coming to all Adelaide buses and trains [$]
Soon you’ll be able to use your credit card to board all Adelaide public transport – as a report blasts the current payment system as “archaic”.
Extinction Rebellion SA protests oil and gas conference
Extinction Rebellion organised a colourful and noisy three-day protest against the Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
Northern Territory
Croc surge prompts chilling warning to ‘reckless’ locals
As saltwater crocodiles multiply and spread in the East Kimberley, authorities fear a fatal attack is a real possibility if people do not show the deadly predator more respect.
‘Potentially huge’ ramifications in Gove land rights [$]
A native title case going through an NT court could have a huge impact on historic acts, with a claim for millions in compensation for the destruction of land in Northeast Arnhem Land.
At the centre of Beetaloo Basin gas debate, Traditional Owners chart future for their communities
It is a phrase often muttered when discussing Indigenous advancement in the modern age: learn to walk in two worlds.
Sustainability
Eighteen years ago, Australian Ronni Kahn came up with an ingenious idea to rescue wasted food and turn it into meals for the hungry. Now she’s taking her idea back to her home country, South Africa.
Huge UK public support for direct action to protect environment – poll
66% of people back nonviolent action and 75% support solar power being installed on farmland
The environmental footprint of food
Researchers map the environmental pressures of global production for all foods on land and ocean
“We don’t need solar technology breakthroughs, we just need connections”
One of world’s best solar analysts releases her annual observations, dispelling some myths and including some home truths for the solar and battery storage industries.
The world has a big problem in the drive to net zero
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Timing is everything in the volatile world of resources. And as it stands, there’s probably not going to be enough copper produced over the next few decades to enable net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Nature Conservation
Cyanide fishing is a major part of the exotic fish trade but it’s killing ecosystems
Experts say global demand for aquarium fish is contributing to the degradation of delicate coral ecosystems, especially in major export countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Insect apocalypse looms as world warms
A major new study says there’s mounting evidence the world’s insect populations are in rapid decline and it’s cause for profound concern.
US assistant secretary of state says two countries have stopped creation of new protected areas in Antarctica ‘for too long’
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